Expo City Dubai’s Women’s Pavilion has launched Sama, a dedicated platform that integrates its established Return to Work programme with ongoing skills sessions and employer engagement activities to create a continuous ecosystem for women’s professional advancement. The initiative, delivered in partnership with HSBC and supported by the Expo City Dubai Foundation, seeks to equip participants with updated competencies while facilitating direct links to potential employers across the UAE. According to the pavilion, Sama addresses barriers faced by women returning after career breaks of two years or more by offering structured learning pathways and community support. The platform builds upon earlier phases of the Return to Work programme that reached more than 950 women, expanding access through free online masterclasses and selective in-person cohorts.
Maha Gorton, Head of the Women’s Pavilion, described the effort as a shift in perspective on career interruptions. “This is about shifting the narrative. It’s not starting over. It’s a progression,” Gorton said. The programme’s first phase consists of four online modules covering skills refreshment, confidence building, personal branding and career navigation, with completers eligible for an intensive hybrid accelerator phase featuring mentorship and mock interviews. Medea Nocentini, Founder of C3 Companies Creating Change, which delivers the programme, emphasised the need for layered assistance. “When women return, they need practical support, emotional support and systemic support,” Nocentini stated.
Sama’s rollout coincides with notable gains in female workforce involvement, as Ministry of Human Resources and Emiratisation figures show the number of Emirati women in private-sector roles climbed 128 percent from 2023 to exceed 123,000 by mid-2026. The ministry’s data further indicate that 98 percent of these positions are in skilled categories, with women holding 55 percent of Emirati leadership and executive roles in the private sector. Such progress underscores the timeliness of initiatives like Sama in sustaining momentum toward broader gender equity in employment.
The platform offers multiple entry points, including open skills clinics, networking events and opportunities for employers to engage directly with participants. Women completing the initial online phase receive a certificate and may advance to eight weeks of targeted training that includes career exposure days and one-on-one coaching from senior professionals. Organisers have positioned Sama as an evolving resource that extends beyond single cohorts to provide year-round access for women at various stages of their careers.
Programme eligibility targets residents of the UAE seeking re-entry after extended absences from any professional background, with no cost to participants. The accelerator phase incorporates practical elements such as updated headshots, LinkedIn optimisation for modern recruitment tools and speed-coaching sessions. Pavilion representatives have invited experienced professionals to serve as mentors, requiring a commitment of one to two hours weekly over five weeks beginning in January 2026.
This development forms part of the Women’s Pavilion’s wider mandate, established during Expo 2020 Dubai, to promote inclusive urban environments through greater female participation in economic and civic life. World Bank statistics place UAE female labour force participation at 53 percent in 2025, reflecting incremental yearly gains. Sama aims to contribute to these trends by fostering both individual career recovery and systemic connections between skilled women and hiring organisations.
